Our guiding stars
In our last blog post How did we get here? we shared how our collective came together in 2023 to take part in a four day workshop.
At the end of those four days we had co-created a set of principles which we all felt aligned with. These became our guiding stars as we began to explore working together over the next few years.
They are not written in order of importance, nor are they the only values that we hold as individuals and as a group. But they sit above everything that we do, as something we continually refer back to when making important decisions.
1. Build for the future, celebrate but don’t rest on the past
This city has had enough short-term promises. York is not just a museum of the past, it has a dynamic future. So, we’re building new things that will last, for our kids and grandkids to get a better shot. We build the future by backing things that take time to pay off. We don’t seek cheap, quick fixes.
2. Get to the root of it
Painting over cracks rarely solves the root causes of problems. If something is broken, we should address the cause rather than the symptom. This includes how decisions are made and who gets a say. This includes admitting when we’ve got things wrong, and committing to continue to make things better.
3. This Is our city
The residents of York should decide how land and resources here are managed and cared for. Visitors to York enjoy the benefits of investment in the centre and tourist areas, while residents can feel neglected. We believe our city can function more effectively to the benefit of everyone.
4. Everyone shares in what we build
Everyone should enjoy a share in the success of a thriving city. We all deserve security, time, care, good health, and access to green space alongside good transport choices, affordable and warm homes and safe communities. We seek to build community wealth and personal wealth.
5. Get our mojo back
York should be a much more confident city: currently, we talk more than we do and this holds us back. Unlocking our potential involves being willing to try things, have fun, get it wrong sometimes, and try again. We can serve the city far better by breaking with the “this is how it’s always been done” mindset, driven by a fear of change. York faces the real prospect of being left behind, unless we adopt a very different and more proactive approach.
6. Solidarity, not uniformity
York enjoys the benefits and riches of a diverse community: there is far more we have in common than divides us, and we should celebrate and build on that positivity. What matters more than agreeing on everything is that we commit to trying to improve this city for the benefit of all the people in it. We can celebrate our differences while supporting and caring for one another.
7. Learn in public
We are committed to sharing what we learn. We recognise that it is only through working together with one another that we will see the change we desire. We are committed to working collaboratively, admitting when we make mistakes, and we will use plain English to enable everyone to feel included in conversations about their city.
